Monday, December 26, 2011

Where The Old Folks Write

Since moving back to Michigan, I've been scouring the internets trying to find a local writing group.  No luck thus far.  And while I've yet to visit a library to inquire what they might be keeping secret, I'm becoming more resigned to the fact I used to write in a very unique place.

South Florida is home to dozens of writer's groups, of all different sizes, genres and colors. I tried out a few  but always stayed loyal to my main group.  This was an eclectic collection from all different walks of life, all writing about something different while offering great critiques that have made me better over the years.

However, as I reflect on my time down there, one thing is so blatantly obvious it almost need not be stated.  I will state it nonetheless since many of you may not be aware of this fact.

Florida is home to many, many old folks.  Now I'm not talking rocking-on-a-porch-with-a-blanket-while-your-teeth-fall-out old.  I'm talking about retired folks.  Folks without jobs and lots of time to write and way too much retirement money to spend on writing conferences, self-publishing and the like.

People up here work all day. (At least those with jobs.)  Retirees in Florida have all the time in the world to devote to their craft/hobby/passion.  Where ever you look down there you can slip into a group, get a half-way decent critique and better yourself.  Up here, I'm not so sure.

I've found one group that meets regularly near the University of Michigan.  I'll give it a try, but I'm likely to find a bunch of young know-it-alls, too pumped full of their professors' BS to give serious critique.  Then again, that might be a refreshing change.

After all, I can only read so many memoirs no one else will ever see.

So bring on the young.  And thanks to the old.

4 comments:

April Plummer said...

Yeah...I've been to FL several times, and unless you're in Miami...and even then...LOTS of old people. And a lot of them are from NY and grouchy as hell. At least in my experience. I'm sure there are many nice old people there too. We're so not retiring there when we're old.

Travener said...

Yeah, but the critiques you'd get from those old folks in Fla would reflect tastes that have frozen in time since disco was king, whereas up there in Michigan you'll get critiques that are...well, just plain frozen.

You can't tell me you didn't see that one coming.

MC Howe said...

Speaking of frozen, I just took my boy to the community pool, which they claim is a lovely 87 degrees. Even in his 5 month old face you could see he knew this weren't Florida.

jkraus8464 said...

As a somewhat old person in Florida I must say that not all of us are close to dead. The people who are just retired or have been for a bit are the ones that are really working on their writing. I have not yet retired, (doggone) but certainly will be happy to spend my daytime continuing my writer craft. So, MC, we are still here for you as your critique buddies. Send you writing here. Email works fine.